Interchangeable heel for shoes



June 17, 1952 G. LVY

INTERCHANGEABLE HEEL FOR SHOES 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed Jan. 2, 1948 June 17, 1952 G. LVY

INTERCHANGEABLE HEEL FOR SHOES 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Jan. 2, 1948 INVENTOE G-EZA Lovy- Pw .w Q) Emi E Q QN N www Patented June 17, 1952 UNITED sTATEs ATENT OFFICE Application January 2, 1948, Serial No. 97 In Argentina September 3, 1947 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel interchangeable heel for shoes. I

More particularly, the invention relates to a novel heel for shoes wherein the lower Zone may be replaced, when it becomes worn through use, by another fresh one, and the character of novelty substantially refers to the arrangement for adjusting and fixing the removable part in position.

Several methods are known having for their object to solve the problem of renewing those areas of the sole of a shoe which becomes worn most speedily, and among the known means, there exist several types of heels wherein the lower zone or tread element may be replaced by a fresh one when the former has become worn.

The novel element offers certain essential advantages over the former known arrangements, owing to the novel means employed for fixing the same in position, as well as to the particular features provided by said means.

The interchangeable element according to this invention substantially consists of the two parts already mentioned, one being fixed and the other removable, said parts being reinforced by a layer of rigid material (plastic compound, etc.) at the areas cofespondng to its surfaces of reciprocal contact, and provided with fixing means consisting of a screw which, after passing through an orifice formed at the central Zone of the fixed element, engages with a threaded orifice provided in the removable element. The conjoint further comprises plane surfaces or a series of complementary projections and recesses between the said reciprocal contact surfaces, adapted to serve as a guiding means, and also, a pair of semicylindrical surfaces, with their axis placed perpendicularly to the lower surface of the heel. The head of the said screw is seated within a recess, so as to not protrude beyond the inner surface in which the recess is located. (Note: the respective spacial terms refer to those anormally admitted for a shoe.)

In view of said features, it will be readily seen that Iby using a screw as a fixing means and owingr to the action of the layers of rigid material, the conjoint of the elements attains a degree of solidarity not obtained heretofore by any of the known methods. This advantage is still enhanced by that resulting from a system of abutment consisting of two semi-cylindrical surfaces, which, in cooperation with the complementary projections and recesses, provide for a more convenient distribution of stresses and avoid the deformations caused by the use of the known devices, so much the more when considering the friction between both surfaces in engagement, caused by the pressure exerted by the screw.

In the foregoing, only a single screw has Vbeen referred to, but it will be evident that more than one may be used, in accordance with the requirements of each case.

An improvement of importance provided by this novel fixing method, consists in that the horizontal surfaces of engagement between both elements are not parallel, butarranged with a slight divergence toward the inner zones, whereby, owing to the pressure exerted by the screw, the adjustment and adherence will be more effective and of-longer duration.

Further features, as well as the details of construction of the improved heel will more fully be understood with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein several preferred embodiments of the invention are shown, the details of which, as is natural, may be varied. Reference will be made thereto in the following description, wherein the practicability of the invention will clearly be demonstrated. Y In Vsaid drawing: Y Y

Figure 1 is an upper plan View of a heel constructed in accordance with the invention, the

remaining parts of the respective shoe having been omitted.

Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section of the' heel.

Figure 3 is a cross section of the same heel shown in the foregoing figures.

Figure 4 illustrates a modified arrangement, differing by the particular design of the projections and recesses for guiding the elements.

Figure 5 shows a heel not provided with semicylindrical abutment surfaces. Y

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are views similar to those of Figures 2, 3 and 1, respectively, with the difference that the arrangement of projections and recesses has been modified, being combined with said semi-cylindrical surfaces.

In the following description, use is made of reference numbers for identifying the several parts of the conjoint, like numbers indicating similar or equivalent elements in all the different views.

The xed part I, of plastic material, is joined to the sole 2 of the shoe. Its lateral surface 3 and upper surface 4, conjointly with the lateral surface 5 and lower surface 6 of the removable piece 1, constitute any one of the conventional forms used in this kind of element.

The removable member 'I is formed by a Zone of plastic material l', and another zone of leather or rubber '1". Said zones are reciprocally connected together by means of small nails 8, with the cooperation of any suitable cementing material.

The guiding memloel` consists of recesses 9 and projections I0, formed on the horizontal surfaces to be placed in contact.

The surfaces II and I2 of the fixed part I and removable part 7, respectively, form areas of semi-cylindrical surfaces. The surface Il is limited by the horizontal surface portions i3 and I4, while the surface I2 joins the corresponding surface portions I5 and I6 of the member 'I'.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8, instead of providing the recesses 9 and projections Iil, the surfaces II and I2 extend in a forward direction, at H and 2', so as to form, together with the surfaces I I" and I2", projecting part I9' and corresponding recess 9.

The screw I1, of which the head is seated Within a recess I9 of the member 2, passes through the orice 20 and its threaded end 2l is screwed into the threaded orifice 22 of the zone I member L It should be noted that, as already stated before, the several adjacent horizontal face portions I3 and I5, I4 and I6, may be of a slightly concave shape, for providing for a better fitting.

In accordance with the features of eiiiciency and economy resulting in the several cases, in view of the wear and tear caused by use, the member 1 may be adapted to be replaced entirely, or only a certain zone of the same, such as It should also be understood that the foregoing description relates to some preferred forms of carrying the invention into practice, given by way of demonstration, but not limiting examples, and that several modifications of shape, construction and detail may be introduced without departing from the scope of the invention as clearly determined in the following claims.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a shoe having a sole, the combination with a relatively rigid first heel portion secured to the sole, of a second relatively rigid heel portion fitted upon the side of the first heel portion opposite to that facing said sole; a substantially centrally disposed screw means extending through the first heel portion and screwed into a threaded recess in the top face of said second heel portion for removably securing said second heel portion to said sole; a generally U-shaped peripheral flange integral upon one of said heel portions and the other heel portion having a corresponding U- shaped peripheral recess portion inter-fitting with said peripheral flange to retain said second heel portion in place upon said first heel portion; inwardly diverging opposed bearing surface portions disposed mutually on the peripheral ange and the corresponding recess portion causing the outer arcuate edges of the heel portions to meet when the latter are brought together and initially close the L of the the outer arcuate surfaces of the heels together and provide a tight peripheral junction between said heel portions during assembly; and complementary grooves' and projections of semi-circular cross-section provided on said first and second heel portions extending transversely thereof in criss-cross formation upon the mutually opposed interior surfaces of said heel portions within said U-shaped peripheral iiange and corresponding peripheral recess portion thereof.

2. In a shoe having a sole, the combination with a relatively rigid first heel portion secured to the sole, of a second relatively rigid heel portion tted upon the side of the rst heel portion opposite to that facing said sole; a substantially centrally disposed screw means extending through the first heel portion and screwed into a threaded recess in the top face of said second heel portion for removably securing said second heel portion to said sole; a generally U-shaped peripheral flange integral upon one of said heel portions and the other heel portion having a corresponding U-Y shaped peripheral recess portion inter-iitting with said peripheral flange to retain said second heel portion in place upon said first heel portion; inwardly diverging opposed bearing surface portions on the peripheral ange and the corresponding rim causing the outer arcuate edges of the heel portions to meet when the latter are brought together and initially close the outer arcuate surfaces of the heels together and provide a tight peripheral junction between said heel portions during assembly; complementary grooves and projections of semi-circular cross-section provided on said first and second heel portions extending transversely thereof in criss-cross formation upon the mutually opposed interior surfaces of said heel portions within said U-shaped peripheral ange and corresponding peripheral recess portion thereof, said generally fiat flange having a series of apertures therein; and an outer third heel portion of resilient material co-extensive with and mounted upon the second heel portion and having fastening means engaging in said series of apertures for securing said third heel portion to the latter or second heel portion.

GEZA LvY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 129,447 Wyman July 16, 1872 253,844 Clinton Feb. 21, 1882 1,805,738 Lee May 19, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 10,330 Great Britain Oct. 2, 1912 19,227 Great Britain Mar. 10, 1894 of i893 25,404 Great Britain Feb. 11, 1909 of 190B 229,227 Great Britain Feb. 19, 1925 686,610 France Apr. l5, 1930 

